A certain king once went forth in disguise to look into the affairs of his subjects. Presently, he came to a great village which he entered unattended. Being athirst, he stopped at the door of a house and asked for water. There came out to him a fair woman with a water jug, which she gave him, and he drank. When he looked at her, he was ravished by her beauty and besought her favours. Now she knew him, so she led him into the house and, making him sit down, brought out a book and said to him, "Look within it while I order my affairs and return to you." So he looked into the book, and behold, it treated of the Divine prohibition against adultery and of the punishments which Allah has prepared for those who commit this sin. When he read this, his flesh quaked and his hair bristled and he repented to Almighty Allah. Then he called the woman and, giving her the book, went away. Now her husband was absent, and when he returned, she told him what had passed. At this he was confounded and said to himself, "I fear the King's desire has fallen upon her."

And he dared not approach her carnally after this. When some time had passed, the wife told her kinfolk of her husband's conduct, and they complained to the King, saying, "Allah advance the King! This man hired of us a piece of land for tillage and tilled it awhile, then left it fallow. He neither tilled it nor forsook it, so that we might let it to one who would till it. Indeed, harm has come to the field and we fear its corruption, for such land, if it be not sown, spoils." The King said to the man, "What hinders you from sowing your land?" He answered, "Allah advance the King! I learned that the lion entered the field, wherefore I stood in awe of him and dared not draw near it, for knowing I cannot cope with the lion, I stand in fear of him." The King understood the parable and replied, "O man, the lion trod and trampled not your land, and it is good for seed. So till it and Allah prosper you in it, for the lion has done it no hurt." Then he bade give the man and his wife a handsome present and sent them away. And amongst the stories is that of